Government Wasting Tens of Billions Through Duplicative Programs

Duplicative programs from catfish inspections to foreign-language support are causing the federal government to waste tens of billions of dollars a year, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

A Washington Post article said the report found 162 examples of duplication including three separate agencies that perform catfish inspections, 159 contractors that provide language support to the Defense Department, and 21 programs that help students afford higher education.

From the article:

The GAO also found that the government operates six programs at two agencies to help employ and train veterans. “Despite these efforts, the unemployment rate for veterans who have recently separated from the military is higher than that for other veterans and nonveterans,” the report said.

Based on its findings, the GAO has issued 300 recommendations. Congress and the Obama administration have not addressed about 30 percent of those recommendations, the report said.

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Founded in 1981, the Project On Government Oversight is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that champions good government reforms. POGO’s investigations into corruption, misconduct, and conflicts of interest achieve a more effective, accountable, open, and ethical federal government.